Typewriting machine



'Feb. 22, 1938. Q sTlCKNEY 2,108,832

TYPEWRITING MACHINE Filed Oct. 18, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet l Feb. 22, 1938. B. c. STICKNEY- 3 TYPEWRITING MACHINE Filed Oct. 18, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Feb. 22, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TYPEWRITING MACHINE Burnham O. Stickney,

Underwood Elliott Fisher Company,

Hillside, N. J., assignor to New York,

10 Claims.

This invention relates to the frames of standard full-size typewriting machines.

This invention is in the non-portable field of heavy-duty typewriters which are usually attached to a desk. In this field, there are prob lems none of which is touched upon in the portable typewriter art. The carriage usually surmounts the standard machine, and overlies the type-system; whereas, in the portable, the carriage usually runs in a niche at the back lower portion of the machine, behind the type-bars. It is customary in the standard machine to provide a heavy self-sustaining main frame, which usually includes four corner-posts, and upon these posts are usually mounted the front and rear tracks for the carriage.

These frames are usually cast iron, and are expensive to finish and also expensive to carry in storage after finishing, owing to their great 20 bulk and weight. In solving this problem, this invention has avoided the necessity for finishing the principal portion of the heavy frame,

and at the same time has improved the appearance of the machine and made the main frame 25 better adapted for attachment thereto of many of the working parts of the typewriter. These working parts are usually attached by screws, bolts and other devices, which heretofore have been inaccessibly put out of sight within the base of the frame, but, according to the present invention, they project conveniently right out from the sides of the frame, and are fully exposed and accessible; while at the same time the machine is more freed from unsightly projections and mountings than heretofore, and is thus rendered more attractive.

According tothe present invention, the main frame is provided with unfinished exterior bosses and projecting parts which are encased by the sides of a sheet-metal mask or outer frame. The typewriter has corner-posts, and these cornerposts are encased by the corner-portions of the mask or outer frame, and attractiveness, great rigidity and stability and harmony are secured, and the machine is rendered more salable.

The mask or outer frame is so made and placed that it occupies a position below the shoulders which in the Underwood typewriter spread upwardly from the main frame and carry the carriage-tracks. The mask or outer frame is made to harmonize with these projecting shoulders, and a smooth, unitary and attractive appearance is gained, a flush unbroken surface being presented where the shoulders rise above the upper edge of the mask.

One of the features of the present invention pertains to masking the body of such a main frame, to cover the unsightly screws and projections usually present in the sides and elsewhere in the main frame; while the carriage-track supports may project above the mask, but combine harmoniously therewith. The mask or outer frame may be inexpensively and readily attached and removed, and present a smooth, unbroken, finished surface, at the sides and front of the typewriter, to harmonize with the overhead carriage, and present an attractive unitary box-like appearance.

The main frame may be cast in one piece, and include the forward open framework which hems the keyboard, and the mask or outer frame may be struck up from sheet-metal and include side walls and a member that extends forwardly therefrom to enclose the open keyboard-frame portion.

At the bottom of the side walls, the sheetmetal is bent inwardly to form ears to fasten up against the under sides of bosses, and screws hold rubber feet up against said cars, so that the mask or outer frame is firmly secured, and yet readily detachable.

In this form of the invention, the corner-posts of the frame are covered by the mask or outer frame, which may present a smooth unbroken vertical wall from the extreme rear to the front of the machine.

At the rear ends of the side walls, the mask or outer frame may be bent inwardly to form rear vertical plates which are fastened by screws to the rear edges of the side walls of the main cast frame. The latter is self-sustaining throughout, and'the mask is a finishing memher.

At the front the upper edges of the side walls may be bent inwardly to form vertical front plates; and at the top the upper edges of these portions of the mask or outer frame fit within shallow recesses cut in the -main frame, so that a flush or unbroken surface is presented where the carriage-track shoulders rise above the mask.

At the rear the carriage-track shoulders pro-; ject outwardly through upper cutaway-portions in the side walls of the mask or outer frame, and present a harmonious appearance.

A front vertical plate extends from side to side of the mask, just in rear of the usual keyboard, the same having an arc-shaped upper edge bordered by short tablet-portions, this front mask being fiush with the side plates that are turned inwardly from the side of the members of the mask or outer frame. The front plate may be secured partly by means of screws passing through hidden ears pendent from the plate, and partly by means of top screws fastening down the rear portions of said tablets.

The front extending frame of the mask or outer frame has inwardly-turned beads or flanges which may fit over the underlying frontwardly-extending flange-portions of the main frame.

One of the valuable features of the main cast frameis the formation of strengthening flanges upon the outer sides of the Walls, strengthening the castings and making them easier to mold and cast and finish. The screws which usually pass through the side walls, are mounted in bosses which project from the side walls beneath the outwardly-turned flanges. The corner-posts also have outwardly-turned flanges which merge with the flanges of the side walls, and the portion of the casting which surrounds the keyboard has also outwardly-turned flanges.

The Underwood frame usually includes upper forwardly and rearwardly extending bars joining the corner-posts, and these bars may also have outward flanges merging with those on the corner-posts.

There is usually included a platen-shift rail which projects at the sides of the machine and overhangs the frame, and the mask or outer frame may be provided with a corresponding depression at this point, the top of the inwardlyflanged side wall of the mask being flat and level except for this depressed portion.

In some kinds of machines, the main cast frame may be provided at the front keyboardportion with inwardly-turned flanges, and it may also have corner-posts with outwardly-turned flanges cast'upon the side walls, and upon the cornerposts, and upon the top bar which connects said posts from front to rear. At this portion, this kind of machine may be masked by a simple side panel seated in between the posts and covering the flanges and screws and bosses, and also covering the upper bar, so as to present a highly finished, smooth surface devoid of cuts or breaks, between the usual side posts of the machine.

Other features and advantages will hereinafter .appear.

In the accompanying drawings,

Figure 1 is a side elevation showing a standard Underwood typewriting machine, having an improved frame-casting masked according to the present improvements.

Figure 2 is a perspective of the sheet-metal mask or outer frame seen at Figure 1. This figure shows also track-supports projecting upwardly from the main frame at the sides of the mask.

Figure 3 shows a main frame casting, resembling partly the Figure 1 construction and partly the old standard construction. Figure 3 shows the usual side posts, and the portion of the frame between them is masked; the remaining portions being exposed.

Figure 4 is a perspective view to illustrate the improved form of the cast side portions of the typewriter-frame seen at Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a perspective of the mask seen at Figure 3, forming a panel between the side posts of the main frame casting.

Figure 6 is a sectional front elevation, showing the construction at Figure 3. The base of the main frame has an outturned upper flange, as shown at Figure 1. Figure 6 may be read upon Figure 1, as well as upon Figures 3 and 4.

Referring to Figure 1, the main iron frame of the machine may be cast in one piece formed of side walls I0, front wall ll, rear wall l2, front and rear side posts I3 and I4, and upper side bars l5, joining the tops of the posts.

In the typewriter-frame, it has been the prac tive to cast the side walls of the base with integral flanges which are turned inwardly. This proves to be an objection in manufacturing, but it conduces to a pleasing appearance of the machine. According to the present invention, the side walls H] are placed at the inner portions of the base, as seen best at Figure 6, and their top flanges l6 project outwardly, thus reducing the cost of manufacture and presenting a firm and more desirable structure. The side walls below said outturned flanges are formed with various bosses l1, through which pass fastening screws 33 for inner members I8, I 9 of the frame, or for securing other supports for the interior working parts of the machine.

The posts, the base, and the top side bars may all form a single casting, from which may project suitably formed exterior bosses I! whereever required. All of the bosses are accessible and readily machine-finished.

From the left-hand side wall ill of the base may extend upwardly an integral arm 20, to carry the usual bell 220 within the enclosure.

The posts may be provided with outwardlyturned flanges 21, forming continuations of said flanges l6, and the same may be further continued at 22 upon the top side bars l5; also at 23 upon the rear edges of the rear posts, and at 24 upon the front edges of the front posts.

From the flange It may be continued downwardly a brace 25merging into horizontal bosses 2B for the front feet 28 of the typewriter. A boss or flange 21 is formed for each of the rear feet 28.

Said side flange I6 may be continued forwardly and downwardly at 29 to merge into the flange 30 projecting from the front of the vertical wall I i of the base, forward of the usual keyboard 32.

All said flanges, as well as all the fastening screws 33, may be covered by opposite side walls 34, 31 of thin sheet-metal struck-up mask or outer frame, Figure 2; the vertical side walls of said mask continuing forward at 35, and being bent at the front to form a front masking portion 36 for the flanged front of the typewriterframe casting. Said side Wall 34 and said front wall 36 are preferably formed in one piece with the opposite wall 31, which is symmetrical to 34.

Each of the side walls and front wall of the mask or outer frame may be formed with inwardly-turned flanges 38, 39, 40, 4| and 42, at the rear, top and front of the main side portion, extending downwardly to the U-shaped front keyboard-framing cross-portion of the mask. The portions 38 mask the rear posts I4 of the main frame and are fastened thereto by top and bottom screws 38*.

The opposite side walls 34 and 31, as described, are symmetrically formed and placed. The facings 34 and 37 mask the flanges and screws, bosses, etc., that are exposed on the sides and upper portions of the casting when the mask is removed.

Each side of the mask or outer frame has bent-in bottom ears or flanges 44, which are fastened by the same screws 45 which hold the rubber feet 28 up in place upon the casting 26, 27; the heads 46 of said screws being received in recesses 41 formed in the bottoms of the rubber feet.

In the tops of the side portions of the mask or outer frame are formed depressions 48, to afford room for the play of the usual carriageshift rail; but, except for the depressions, the top flanges of the side masking members 34, 3'! may be made level, conducing to neatness.

The mask or outer frame or covering fits around all except the usual topmost portions of the usual main frame casting. These top portions consist of shoulders 49, which form ridges coextensive with the outer surface of the mask overhanging the corner-posts and which rise from the mask to carry the front carriagetrack; and rear shoulders 51 rise above the mask to receive the rear carriage-track 52. The carriage 53 is of usual construction to carry the platen 54.

It will be seen that the mask or outer frame or covering, with its smooth, unbroken main surfaces, affords an ornamental covering for the main casting below the overhanging carriage 53.

The side plates 34, 31 of the mask or outer frame or covering are connected by a detachable front vertical masking plate 55, having a curved cut-out upper edge at 56, corresponding to the curvature of the row of types usual in an Underwood machine.

At the ends of the front plate 55 may depend ears 51, fastened by screws 58 to lugs 59 upon the main casting. The top of the front plate at each, side is bent back forming a tablet 60 fastened by screws 60 to the main casting.

At Figures 3, 4 and 5, the main casting is formed with the usual front and rear side posts 6|, 62, and the usual cast front frame 63 extends forwardly from the post BI and encloses the keyboard. Between the posts GI and 62, on each side of the machine, is placed a mask-panel 64 to cover up the various screws 33 and bosses I! which support the typewriter-parts within the base, and also to cover up the topflange l6 which projects outwardly from. the vertical wall I0 of the base. The flange 16, at Figures 3 and 4, is continued upwardly at 66 for the front post and at 61 for the rear post, and these merge into side walls 68, the latter preferably having parts out out at 69, 10.

The panel 64 may be retained by upper screws H fastened down through inwardly-bent flanges 12.- The masking panel may also have a bottom flange 13, which is fastened up by screws 14- against the bottom of the base.

A brace-rod 15 extending from side to side of the machine may connect the upper side walls 68 in Figures 1 and 3, and may be secured by screws 16 passing through the side walls I5, 68.

At Figures 2 and 6, there is depicted a ribbonshaft winding button 11 projecting through the side plate of the mask.

Variations may be resorted to within the scope of the invention, and portions of the improvements may be used without others.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A standard typewriter internal main frame self-sustaining and inclusive of a forward open framing which hems the keyboard, and having a removable mask or outer frame struck up from sheet-metal and including side walls having corners and also having a joining member that extends forward therefrom to encase said open keyboard frame-portion, said main frame having upright corners encased by the mask, said main frame having spread front shoulders rising above the mask for supporting a carriage-track.

2. A standard typewriter internal main frame self-sustaining and inclusive of a forward open framing which hems the keyboard, and having a removable mask or outer frame struck upfrom sheet-metal and including side walls having corners and also having a joining member that extends forward therefrom to encase said open keyboard frame-portion, said main frame having upright corners encased by the mask, said main frame having spread front and rear shoulders rising above the mask for supporting carriagetracks, and the mask fitting within shallow recesses cut in the main frame at the bottoms of said shoulders, to make the surfaces of the shoulders flush with the encasing mask at the joints.

3. In a typewriter having a carriage surmounting the machine and reciprocating upon tracks mounted at the top of the machine, one track at the front and the other at the rear, and a two-part frame for operatively supporting and encasing the movable parts of the typewriter and comprising an inner member and an outer member, said inner member being of heavy construction such as iron casting, in one piece, self-sustaining, and inclusive of a forward open framing which hems the keyboard, having front and rear corner-posts rising to the top of the machine and supporting the carriage-tracks, said outer member having four corners, being removably mounted on the inner member, covering both sides of the typewriter, having a joining member that extends forward therefrom to mask the open keyboard frame-portion, the corners of the outer member close fitting and encasing the corner-posts of the inner member and exposing the tops thereof.

4. In a typewriter having a carriage surmounting the machine and reciprocating upon tracks mounted at the top of the machine, one track at the front and the other at the rear, and a two-part frame for operatively supporting and encasing the movable parts of the typewriter and comprising an inner member and an outer member, said inner member being of heavy construction such as iron casting, said outer member having inwardly-turned bottom ears, and screws passing up through said ears and securing rubber feet to the inner member.

5. In a typewriter having a carriage surmounting the machine and reciprocating upon tracks mounted at the top of the machine, one track at the front and the other at the rear, and atwo-part frame for operatively supporting and encasing the movable parts of the typewriter and comprising an inner member and an outer member, said inner member being of heavy construction such as iron casting, in one piece, selfsustaining, and inclusive of a forward open framing which hems the keyboard, having front and rear corner-posts, said corner-posts having at the top spreading front shoulders for supporting a carriage and whose walls overhang the cornerposts to form a ridge, said outer member having four corners, being removably mounted on the inner member, covering both sides of the typewriter, having a joining member that extends forward therefrom to mask the open keyboard frame-portion, the corners of the outer member close fitting and encasing the corner-posts of the inner member and fitting under the shoulderridge, the ridge being coextensive with the surface of the outer member.

6. In a typewriter having a carriage surmounting the machine and reciprocating upon tracks mounted at the top of the machine, one track at the front and the other at the rear, and a two-part frame for operatively supporting and encasing the movable parts of the typewriter and comprising an inner member and an outer mem her, said inner member being of heavy construction such as iron casting, in one piece, selfsustaining, and inclusive of a forward open framing which hems the keyboard, having rear cornerposts, spread shoulders which support a rear carriage-track at the top of said corner-posts, said outer member having four corners, being removably mounted on the inner member, covering both sides of the typewriter, having a joining member that extends forward therefrom to mask the open keyboard frame-portion, the corners of the outer member close fitting and encasing the corner-posts of the inner member, and having cut-away portions that receive and fit the lower portions of the rear shoulders.

'7. In a typewriter, in combination, a carriage mounted for reciprocatory movement thereon, a standard heavy-duty frame formed as a unitary casting and having a front piece extending forwardly on both sides of the key-bank and across in front of the key-bank, said frame on each side forming a large central side opening, outwardly projecting unfinished reinforcing flanges on opposite sides of each opening, bosses on said side frame, horns extending upwardly on both sides of the front of said frame, a carriage-track supported on said horns, shoulders extending upwardly on both sides of the rear of said frame, a carriage-track supported on said shoulders, and an outer member covering a side of said frame and its opening, said outer member having an inwardly projecting flange overlying the top edge of said frame-side, the inner wall of said outer member contacting said outwardly projecting frameflanges, and the wall of a horn at its lower end overlying in part the upper edge of said outer member and forming a wall the outer surface of which is coextensive with that of the outer wall of said outer member.

8. In a typewriter, in combination, a carriage mounted for reciprocatory movement thereon, a standard heavy-duty frame formed as a unitary casting and having a front piece extending forwardly on both sides of the key-bank and across in front of the key-bank, said frame on each side forming a large central side opening, outwardly projecting unfinished reinforcing flanges on opposite sides of each opening, bosses on said side frame, horns extending upwardly on both sides of the front of said frame, a carriagetrack supported on said horns, shoulders extending upwardly on both sides of the rear of said frame, a carriage-track supported on said shoulders, and an outer member covering a side of said frame and its opening, said outer member having an inwardly projecting flange overlying the top edge of said frame-side and an inturned part underlying the bottom edge of said frame-side, the inner wall of said outer member contacting said outwardly projecting frameflanges, and the wall of a horn at its lower end overlying in part the upper edge of said outer member and forming a wall the outer surface of which is coextensive with that of the outer wall of said outer member.

9. In a typewriter, in combination, a carriage mounted for reciprocatory movement thereon, a standard heavy-duty frame formed as a unitary casting and having a front piece extending forwardly on both sides of the key-bank and across in front of the key-bank, said frame on each side forming a large central side opening, outwardly projecting unfinished reinforcing flanges on opposite sides of each opening, bosses on said side frame, horns extending upwardly on both sides of the front of said frame, a carriagetrack supported on said horns, shoulders extending upwardly on both sides of the rear of said frame, a carriage-track supported on said shoulders, an outer member covering a side of said frame and its opening, said outer member having anv inwardly projecting flange overlying the top edge of said frame-side, an inturned part underlying the bottom edge of said frame-side, and means for securing said inturned part to the bottom of said frame-side, the inner wall of said outer member contacting said outwardly projecting frame-flanges, and the wall of a horn at its lower end overlying in part the upper edge of said outer member and forming a wall the outer surface of which is coextensive with that of the outer wall of said outer member.

10. In a typewriter, in combination, a carriage mounted for reciprocatory movement thereon, a standard heavy-duty frame formed as a unitary casting and having a front piece extending forwardly on both sides of the key-bank and across in front of the key-bank, said frame on each side forming a large central side opening, outwardly projecting unfinished reinforcing flanges on opposite sides of each opening, bosses on said side frame, horns extending upwardly on both sides of the front of said frame, a carriage-track supported on said horns, shoulders extending upwardly on both sides of the rear of said frame, a carriage-track supported on said shoulders, an outer member covering a side of said frame, and its opening, said outer member having an inwardly projecting flange overlying the top edge of said frame-side, an inturned part underlying the bottom edge of said frame-side, and screws for securing said inturned part to the bottom of said frame-side, the inner wall of said outer member contacting said outwardly projecting frame-flanges, and the wall of a horn at its lower end overlying in part the upper edge of said outer member and forming a wall the outer surface of which is coextensive with that of the outer wall of said outer member.

BURNHAM C STICKNEY. 

